For new writers, learning how to properly structure their text can lead to a lot of questions. A notable one is where to put paragraph breaks. You’ve probably been told that a paragraph roughly equates to about five sentences. But when you’re writing a novel, everything is different. How you structure your writing will impact how it’s read. So it’s not as simple as counting sentences. But how should you approach it?
What to Avoid
First, let’s talk about the mistake you should always avoid: making too few breaks. No one wants to sit down to a novel that has blocks of text that go on for pages. That’s giving your readers a textbook, not a novel. We want to see lots of white space on your pages. Not only is this less cluttered, but it also signals to your readers that this is an easy read. Reading is supposed to be a fun and an enjoyable experience. Don’t make your readers struggle through it.
As a general rule, I would say more breaks are better than too few. But don’t go too crazy with them either. Use intention. Too many breaks can cause a different lack of structure in your writing. If there’s a break every single sentence, there won’t be much variation and will cause a monotonous flow. It decreases any emphasis in the scene because it’s all the same.
Where to Break Up Writing
A way I like to think about it is by picturing my writing as a movie. You never see a movie scene that’s been filmed continuously from a single angle. Even a simple scene will have several cuts in it. Paper and ink may be a different medium, but it’s a good image to have in mind. Just like in movies, always break when:
- Time has passed.
- The setting changes.
- A new character arrives.
- Whenever someone speaks.
- The focus of the scene changes.
- There’s a shift in the mood or tone.
- A new idea, subject, or topic is introduced.
For those who prefer the simplest answer possible, that really equates to “whenever something changes.” Keep an eye on where the camera is pointing at, and as soon as it moves, change the paragraph. But if you want to take it a step further, there’s a second use for paragraph breaks.
Other Ways to Use it
You can have fun with this tool. This one of the greatest ways to moderate your story’s tone and pacing. If your scene is tense or action-packed, you can use a lot more breaks to chop up the writing and deliver a sense of urgency or panic. You can even use one-worded paragraphs to really drive emphasis. Just remember, don’t do that too often in your novel, or it’ll lose its power. Alternatively, you can use less breaks to make it feel calmer or thoughtful.
You can even use it as a way to shape character voice. A methodical character will think in longer paragraphs than a scatterbrain who barely talks in complete sentences.
Balancing this makes all the difference. Good writing is like music; there should be an ebb and flow to your paragraphs and sentences. Short sentences and long sentences. Shorter paragraphs and longer paragraphs.
Conclusion
Once you understand the basics, paragraph breaking really isn’t that complicated. It’s the tool you use to break up those dreaded bricks of text. A little further down the line, and now you have a tool to moderate your pacing and tone. If you have further tips, share in the comments!